Frozen Hot Chocolate is the perfect icy and refreshing warm-weather treat and can be made with just five ingredients and five minutes.
Have you ever made frozen hot chocolate? If you haven’t, we should fix that today.
It’s everything you love about a creamy glass of hot chocolate, but iced so you can still enjoy (frozen) hot chocolate even when it’s 100 degrees outside. Best of all, frozen hot chocolate is super simple to throw together at home since it’s literally just hot chocolate ingredients blended with ice.
(You could also technically call it frozen chocolate milk since chocolate milk is just cold hot chocolate, but that name’s not nearly as catchy.)
What does frozen hot chocolate taste like?
In taste and texture, frozen hot chocolate falls somewhere between chocolate milk and a chocolate milkshake. It’s thicker and icier (obviously) than chocolate milk, but not quite as rich and nowhere near as calorie-laden as a milkshake.
In my mind, it’s the perfect warm-weather treat. Icy and refreshing, but not so heavy you want to take a nap afterward.
Tool and Ingredient Notes
- Blender: A high-powered blender is going to give you the best blended consistency (I used a Vitamix for the drinks you see in the photos), but any old blender will get the job done.
- Cocoa powder: Both natural and Dutch-process cocoa powder will work for this recipe, but Dutch-process cocoa powder is considered the gold-standard for hot chocolate.
- Milk: Any milk can be used here (plant-based works just fine). The higher fat the milk, the richer your drink will be. For an extra rich and creamy drink, try substituting half and half or heavy cream for some of the milk.
How to Make Frozen Hot Chocolate
- Make Chocolate Syrup: In your microwave, heat water until steaming and then stir in cocoa powder and sugar until completely smooth. Then stir in half of the milk to cool the syrup down.
- Blend: In your blender, combine ice, the chocolate milk mixture, and remaining cup of milk, and blend until well-combined and frosty.
- Serve and Enjoy: Pour into glasses, top with whipped cream and optional fudge sauce, and enjoy!
Variations
- Banana Frozen Hot Chocolate: Replace 1 cup of the ice with a frozen banana.
- Peanut Butter Frozen Hot Chocolate: Add a heaping spoonful (or two) of peanut butter to the blender before blending.
- Coffee Frozen Hot Chocolate: Replace 2 cups of the ice with coffee ice cubes.
- Switch Out the Toppings: Try Peanut Butter Sauce or Nutella Sauce.
FAQ
Can I make this ahead of time?
Not really. While you can store leftovers in the refrigerator, the pulverized ice in the drink will start to melt and the drink will no longer be thick and frosty.
Can I make this without a blender?
Sorry, no. This drink really needs to be blended with ice. If you’re craving something cold and chocolatey, go make a cup of homemade chocolate milk. It will totally satisfy those chocolate cravings.
Or if you have some ice cream, you can make a milkshake without a blender.
More Frosty Summer Drinks
Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe Notes
- This recipe will make two very generous servings, slightly more than enough to fill two 16-ounce mason jars, or three to four smaller cups.
- As written, this recipe is not too sweet. If you like your frozen drinks really sweet, add a bit more sugar.
Frozen Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
Fudge Sauce
- 2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
- 1 heaping tablespoon (8g) cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon (14g) butter
- 2 tablespoons milk, half and half, or heavy cream
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla optional
Frozen Hot Chocolate
- 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon (63g) granulated sugar *
- 3 tablespoons (15g) cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup filtered water
- 2 cups milk any percentage, divided
- 3 cups ice or 2 1/2 cups crushed ice*
- Whipped cream optional
Instructions
Fudge Sauce
- In a small bowl, stir together the sugar and cocoa powder and set aside.
- In a 1-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in milk. Add cocoa and sugar mixture and whisk until smooth. Continue to whisk continuously, until mixture begins to bubble.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla (if desired). Allow to sit and thicken while you make your frozen hot chocolate.
Frozen Hot Chocolate
- In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cocoa powder, making sure to mix well and crush any cocoa powder lumps.
- In a 16-ounce mason jar or large, microwave-safe mug, microwave water for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until steaming. Stir in cocoa powder and sugar mixture until smooth. Stir in 1 cup of the milk.
- Combine ice, cocoa and milk mixture, and remaining 1 cup of milk in your blender and blend on high until smooth.
- Divide frozen hot chocolate between glasses, top with optional whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
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